Sanitary roll paper towel holder

ABSTRACT

This invention solves some critical issues of contamination and waste of paper taken from a roll of paper towels for cleaning. Two hands are required to remove a sheet, one to restrain the roll and the other to pull the sheet away The hand restraining the roll will leave contamination, exposing others to bacteria. Users will consume more paper than is required to get a clean sheet. This invention solves the problem using a self adjusting vertical clamp bar to restrain the roll, that is held on a vertical post, and horizontal base, eliminating the need to use a second contaminated hand. The clamp bar will self adjust to roll size as sheets are removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a self adjusting clamping assembly forassisting removal of sheets from a roll of paper towels.

FIG. 2 is a back view showing a cut away section to expose the pivot pin8 and fastening screw 9.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a cut away section to expose all fasteningscrews 9

FIG. 4 is a top view with sectioned area to expose pivot pins 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 part 1 is a base with a counter bored hole, FIG. 3 side view, toaccept the center post 2. It has three drilled holes with countersinksto accept three flat head screws FIG. 3 side view part 9 to securecenter post 2 and rear support post 3. Geometric shape of the base isshown in FIG. 4 top view.

FIG. 1 part 2 is a center post with adequate length and diameter to holda roll of paper towels 6 in an upright position. The bottom of the post2 has a drilled pilot hole, FIG. 3 side view, sized to accept screw 9.

FIG. 1 and side view FIG. 3 is a rear support post 3. The post 3 twoclearance holes to accept two pivot pins 8 FIG. 4. Two pilot holes aredrilled in its flat bottom to accept two screws 9 for securing post 3 tobase 1.

FIG. 1 shows four identical pivot arms 4 of equal length with twocounter bored holes to accept pivot pins 8 FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 shows a clamp bar 5 positioned in an vertical position. It hastwo clearance holes to accept pivot pins 8 in top view FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 shows a roll of paper towels 6 in an upright position, setting onbase 1 and held upright with center post 2.

FIG. 1 part 7 is a sheet of paper on roll 6.

FIG. 4 shows pivot pins 8. There four total pivot pins, two fittedthrough clearance holes in rear support post 3 and two fitted throughtwo clearance holes in clamp bar 5.

FIG. 3 side view are three flat head screws 9 for securing center post 2and rear support post 3 to base 1.

MODE OF OPERATION

This invention, SANITARY ROLL PAPER TOWEL HOLDER, provides a method tohold a roll of paper towels (FIG. 1) in a upright position whileallowing sheets of paper (FIG. 1 part 7) to be removed withoutcontacting the roll of paper towels (FIG. 1 part 6) with contaminatedhands. A center post (FIG. 1 part 2) and a base (FIG. 1 part 1), forholding the roll of paper towels 6 in place, is provided to keep theroll of paper towels in place. A self adjusting clamping mechanism (FIG.1 part 5, 4, & 3 (the claim of this invention) provides resistance toroll 6 while pulling a sheet 7 from the roll. To operate the paper towelholder, clamp bar 5 is lifted and rotated back to allow a row of papertowels 6 to be placed over the center post 2. By releasing clamp bar 5,it will self adjust to against paper toll 6 and provide resistance forceto roll 6. To remove a sheet 7, the user can pull out the desired numberof sheets and with a slight rapid pull the sheet, it will separate fromthe roll of paper towels 6. As the sheets are removed, clamp bar 6 willself adjust under its own weight until all sheets are removed.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for holding a paper towel roll,comprising a pair of end sections, wherein each of said end sectionsincludes an arm portion and a “U”-shaped frame portion having a closedend flexibly attached to said arm portion, each said arm portion ispivotable between a closed position, extending within said “U”-shapedframe portion having a closed end flexibly attached to said arm portion,and an open position, extending outward from said closed end of said“U”-shaped frame portion perpendicular to said “U”-shaped frame portion,each said arm portion includes a roll support plug extending toward anopen end of said “U”-shaped frame portion with said arm portion in saidopen position, and open ends of said “U”-shaped frame portions areattachable to one another and separable from one another.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said open ends of said “U”-shaped frameportions include alignment features for aligning said “U”-shaped frameportions with one another.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein saidalignment features include a pair of pins and a pair of holes receivingsaid pair of pins as said open ends of said “U”-shaped frame portionsare brought together.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said“U”-shaped frame member are attached to one another, and said armportions overlap one another as said arm portions are each moved towardsaid closed position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said“U”-shaped frame members are attached to one another, said arm portions,each in said open position, are separated by a separation distance of12.7 to 15.24 centimeters (5 to 6 inches), and said roll support plugsextend into said separation distance.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein each of said end sections is an integral structure composed of aplastic resin, and each said arm portions is attached to said “U”-shapedframe portion by a flexible section.
 7. Apparatus for holding a papertowel roll, comprising: a frame portion extending around an aperture; afirst arm portion flexibly attached to a first end of said frameportion, pivotable between a closed position, extending within saidaperture, and an open position, extending outward from said first end ofsaid frame portion perpendicular to said frame portion; a second armportion flexibly attached to a second end of said frame portion,opposite said first end, pivotable between a closed position, extendingaway from said frame portion and parallel to said frame portion, and anopen position, extending outward from said second end of said frameportion perpendicular to said frame portion; and a roll support plug,extending from each arm portion, wherein said roll support plugs extendtoward one another with said arm portions each in said open position. 8.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said arm portions, each in said openposition, are separated by a separation distance of 12.7 to 15.24centimeters (5 to 6 inches), and said roll support plugs extend intosaid separation distance.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein saidapparatus is an integral structure composed of a plastic resin, and eachsaid arm portions is attached to said frame portion by a flexiblesection.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said frame portionincludes a first hole adjacent said second arm portion, said second armportion includes a second hole adjacent said frame portion, said firstand second holes are aligned with one another with said second armportion in said open position, whereby a screw fastened to extendthrough said first and second holes holds said second arm in said openposition.
 11. A package for retail sale comprising: a paper towel rollincluding a tubular core and a paper web attached to said tubular coreand wrapped around said tubular core; a holder including a pair of armportions movable into positions extending along opposite ends of saidpaper towel roll, wherein each said arm portion includes a roll supportplug extending into an end of said tubular core as said arm portionextends along said end of said paper towel roll.
 12. The package ofclaim 11, additionally comprising a plurality of paper towel rollshaving a common width.
 13. The package of claim 11, wherein said papertowel roll has a width of 12.7 to 15.24 centimeters (5 to 6 inches). 14.The package of claim 11, wherein said holder includes a pair of endsections each of said end sections includes an arm portion within saidpair of arm portions and a “U”-shaped frame portion having a closed endflexibly attached to said arm portion, each said arm portion ispivotable between a closed position, extending within said “U”-shapedframe portion having a closed end flexibly attached to said arm portion,and an open position, extending outward from said closed end of said“U”-shaped frame portion perpendicular to said “U”-shaped frame portion,each said arm portion includes a roll support plug extending toward anopen end of said “U”-shaped frame portion with said arm portion in saidopen position, and open ends of said “U”-shaped frame portions areattachable to one another and separable from one another.
 15. Thepackage of claim 14, wherein said open ends of said “U”-shaped frameportions include alignment features for aligning said “U”-shaped frameportions with one another.
 16. The package of claim 15, wherein saidalignment features include a pair of pins and a pair of holes receivingsaid pair of pins as said open ends of said “U”-shaped frame portionsare brought together.
 17. The package of claim 14, wherein said armportions overlap one another as said arm portions are each moved towardsaid closed position with said open ends of said “U”-shaped framemembers attached to one another.
 18. The package of claim 17, whereinsaid holder includes a frame portion extending around an aperture; afirst arm portion flexibly attached to a first end of said frameportion, pivotable between a closed position, extending within saidaperture, and an open position, extending outward from said first end ofsaid frame portion perpendicular to said frame portion; a second armportion flexibly attached to a second end of said frame portion,opposite said first end, pivotable between a closed position, extendingaway from said frame portion and parallel to said frame portion, and anopen position, extending outward from said second end of said frameportion perpendicular to said frame portion; and a roll support plug,extending from each arm portion, wherein said roll support plugs extendtoward one another with said arm portions each in said open position 19.The package of claim 18, wherein said holder is an integral structurecomposed of a plastic resin, and each said arm portions is attached tosaid frame portion by a flexible section.
 20. The package of claim 18,wherein said frame portion includes a first hole adjacent said secondarm portion, said second arm portion includes a second hole adjacentsaid frame portion, said first and second holes are aligned with oneanother with said second arm portion in said open position, whereby ascrew fastened to extend through said first and second holes holds saidsecond arm in said open position.
 21. A paper towel roll, comprising atubular core and a paper web attached to said tubular core and wrappedaround said tubular core, wherein said paper towel roll has a width of12.7 to 15.24 centimeters (5 to 6 inches).